I think it’s safe to say that the Mackie SRM450 qualifies as an industry standard. I certainly have encountered my share of them over the past 15 years and often still use some original 450’s that I got circa 1999. But Mackie’s latest revisions to this venerable speaker bring it more in line with modern diversified sound needs. Though at first glance the new 450 may look similar to the previous models, Mackie’s version 3 updates of the SRM450 contain many significant changes.
Under the Hood
The driver complement is largely unchanged. A 12-inch ferrite magnet woofer with a 3-inch voice coil is paired with a 1.4-inch diameter titanium dome diaphragm HF compression driver.
Let’s look at what’s new. First and foremost, the power has been upgraded to 1,000 peak watts, while previous versions sported 800 peak watts. The low-frequency amplifier (Class-D) is now 400W RMS, and the high frequency amp (Class-AB) remains 100W RMS. Bear in mind that this is peak power. But when I did a side-by-side comparison with my original version 1 speakers, the increased headroom offered by the new speakers resulted in an improved level of clarity and definition from the source material.
Features, Functions
One thing that’s very noticeable about version 3 is on the back panel. The large heat sink that took up most of the real estate in the back is gone and a smaller heat sink has been relocated to one side of the cabinet, making for a cleaner-looking design. The layout of the rear control panel has changed also to accommodate the new functions and input scheme.
Active DSP has been added that include four preset speaker modes: P.A., DJ, Monitor and Solo. They are basically pre-set EQ settings for using the speaker in different applications. The P.A. mode is basically a flat EQ. This was definitely my go-to setting. With a flat EQ, I can make any EQ changes I want at the board. The DJ mode has a big bass boost, which seems appropriate, and the Solo mode adds midrange clarity and is suited to vocal reproduction and singer/songwriter gigs.
The SRM450v3’s monitor mode is little more dodgy to me — I have mixed a lot of monitors, and I feel that trying to preset any EQ from venue to venue is a tough proposition. However, the monitor EQ setting with lowered highs and lows with a mid-range punch may provide a good starting point. Also new is a built-in protection limiter and an onboard feedback destroyer which, when selected, automatically inserts up to four narrow band 1/16th-octave notch filters at the onset of feedback.
Other additions include a second input channel that can be fed by a combo connector — XLR or 1/4-inch TRS — or stereo RCA, with the latter simply being paralleled mono into input #2 on the mixer panel. Channel 1 also now has a combo connector. Used as a stand-alone PA, a single speaker can be fed two separate inputs and mixed using the individual gains on the back. Just the thing for singer/songwriters or “Anchor-style” mic-directly-into-speaker P.A. applications. The 1/4-inch inputs are a “Wide-Z” design that can handle anything from an instrument to a mic or a line input. The thru function is an XLR out and is switchable between a feed of Channel 1 and a mix of both channels.
Enter the SRM1801
As a stand-alone speaker, the SRM450v3 excels, but when paired with Mackie’s SRM1801 subwoofer, it really shines. My first impression of the 1801 was that, for an 18-inch speaker, the enclosure seemed quite compact. And 73 pounds is pretty light for a powered, all-plywood single-18 subwoofer. The cabinet balances well with a two-person, side-by-side carry and has a trapezoidal design, which could be arrayed slightly. Unlike the SRM450 (which has M10 rigging inserts), the SRM1801 has no rigging points and is strictly a ground-stack design. Like the SRM450, the SRM1801 is equipped with a standard 35mm mounting socket and well suited with a pole mount (speaker on a stick) or simply with a SRM450 stacked on top on the sub.
The SRM1801 is powered by a 1,000-watt peak power (500W RMS) Class-D amp. The crossover frequency is 125 Hz. The inputs and outputs are quite straightforward. There are high pass and full range outputs for which type of speaker is next in line in your chain. There is also a polarity switch that can be kicked in if you are back-firing under the stage for some reason or correcting for a large disparity in speaker positioning compared to your other mains. The one thing I wasn’t fond of is the power and clip light LED positioned on the back. I would much prefer a two-color LED on the front of the cabinet to indicate power-on, and to let me know if clipping is starting to happen.
The SRM1801 is not the sub of all subs, and certainly anyone seeking a little more in the bottom-end department should check out Mackie’s larger SRM1850 and SRM2850 powered subwoofers. But the bottom line is that the SRM1801 pairs nicely with the SRM450v3, offering a unified crossover transition while adding another octave of solid — yet not overbearing — LF response.
Overall View
Although I didn’t test it here, I should also mention that Mackie has also updated its SRM350 (10-inch woofer system) to v3 status, with a similar feature set and 500W of RMS biamplification. But all in all, I’m impressed with the updated SRM450v3. This new design provides more power and headroom while adding some useful new features. And besides its noticeably improved sound over its predecessors, the SRM450v3 retains a pricing that makes it affordable, either as a compact cabinet that’s versatile enough to be used as a monitor or main P.A. or as a general, do-anything utility enclosure in a larger system.
At a Glance
A Classic Grows Up
Mackie has updated its venerable SRM450 speakers and added a few new tricks and some bonus extras, including on-board processing, analog mix inputs and more beef in the wattage department.
Mackie SRM450v3/SRM1801
PROS: Updates are well thought out and aimed at wide range of end users. More power than previous models, yet at 37 pounds, the lightest SRM450 so far. The SRM1801 sub is compact and fairly lightweight (73 lbs.) for a single-18 design.
CONS: Higher-end users probably do not need SRM450’s EQ contour presets; rear panel feedback processing is difficult to access from FOH or while speakers are used as floor wedges. Power and clip LED’s on SRM1801 not visible from front of speaker.
Price (street): SRM450v3, $499.99; SRM1801, $799.99.
Manufacturer: Mackie
More Info: www.mackie.com
